Pigeon racing is a longstanding tradition in many countries, but high bird mortality, forced migration, and selective breeding for performance raise significant welfare concerns that are only beginning to receive scrutiny.
The welfare of homing pigeons in racing depends heavily on individual keeper practice — good fanciers provide excellent nutrition, veterinary care, and graduated training. However, the inherent mortality of long races and the practice of releasing thousands of birds simultaneously in adverse conditions creates a scale of harm that welfare organisations have flagged. Regulatory standards vary greatly between countries.